Did diplomats and government officials soften the hard truths within the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change?
Many scientists involved in the process have gone public with complaints that language was tweaked and the message was spun under pressure from the United States, China, Saudi Arabia and others. Some scientists have said they will never participate in another IPCC process as a result.
The “official” 23-page summary of Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability — was presented to world media in Brussels on April 6. It is the second part of Climate Change 2007, the fourth assessment by the IPCC on the science and impact of global warming.
But another version of the report — what the scientists actually wrote — exists.
The people at ClimateScienceWatch.Org have posted online what they identify as this original, uncut version.
The site also tracks the emerging debate:
During a lengthy and contentious session, with interventions by government representatives from the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, numerous edits were made to the scientists’ draft prior to final joint approval by scientists and diplomats. Numerous changes appear clearly to have the effect of “toning down” the scientists’ own draft language on likely damaging impacts of climate change.